8 Best Manual Breast Pumps All New Moms Should Know About

At some point, most new moms are going to consider pumping as opposed to strictly breastfeeding only. Whether or not they decide to go that route, it’s important to consider all types of pumps, including some of the best manual breast pumps.

While it’s plenty beneficial and convenient to have a portable battery-operated breast pump to do most of the work for you, it can also be refreshing to use a pump that you have total control over.

Some might argue that electric breast pumps provide so many different speeds and suction levels that they do a lot of the world for you, but there’s also the chance that the speeds don’t work for you specifically. Or, the breast flanges don’t quite fit, and you’re left awkwardly pumping away while inadvertently making a mess.

With a manual breast pump, you can control the speed, suction, and general sensation. It can also be done more easily in some case when you’re away from home and need to get a quick pump in or need to do so more quietly as well.

Plus, it’s a great option if you need to pump a little less milk at a time. To do that, though, you’re going to need to figure out which manual breast pump is best for you.

1. Medela Harmony Manual Breast Pump

Medela might be a brand known more for its electric breast pumps, but the Medela Harmony Manual Breastpump is also one to consider. It’s a single pump to be used on one breast at a time whether you’re at home or away at work or just away from home for the day and need to pump.

When doing so, you can pump at standard suction and speed or use the 2-phase expression technology to pump at Maximum Comfort Vacuum.

When traveling with the pump, it’s lightweight enough for any bad and doesn’t take up too much room either. And when you need to clean each part of the pump, you can do so in the sink or even in the dishwasher for your convenience.

Accessories: It comes with a pump, stand, and two separate bottles to hold breast milk in until you get home or to store in the refrigerator.

Where To Buy: You can purchase it on the manufacturer’s website and Amazon or in-store at Walmart and Buy Buy Baby.

The Best Part: For some women, you can get almost an entire bottle filled in just a 15 or 20-minute pumping session.

The Not So Great: It doesn’t hold suction for as long as an electric pump might.

2. Kiddiluv Manual Breast Pump

The Kiddiluv Manual Breast Pump works similarly to other similar pumps, but it’s also quite gentle for moms who need a more gentle feel as they pump each time.

The silicone breast shield is soft against your skin while also providing a gentle but still effective suction as you manually pump.

Since the bottle and pump are made from BPA-free silicone and plastic materials, you can be sure that your baby’s milk is in a safe receptacle during and after pumping each time. When you need to clean it, you can take it apart with ease to wash by hand or use the dishwasher since it’s dishwasher safe.

Accessories: The pump comes with a silicone breast shield as well as a small four-ounce bottle.

Where To Buy: You can primarily find it on Amazon at this time.

The Best Part: The pump is comfortable and gentle enough, yet it can still help you get out enough milk per session.

The Not So Great: If you need to pump more each session, the four-ounce bottle may not cut it for you.

3. Nokire Manual Breast Pump

The NOKIRE Manual Breast Pump is all about keeping your pumped milk supply fresh in the time it takes to store it in the refrigerator or get it home if you pump while you’re out.

It comes with two different top dust covers to keep things from getting in or out of the pump when it’s not in use, and there’s also a nipple and lid for the top of that so your baby can drink from the actual bottle you pump into.

The entire pump weighs just 10 ounces, so it’s also lightweight and easy to transport or just toss in your diaper bag in case you need it while away from home.

While you cannot put the breast pump in the microwave, you can boil the parts for up to five minutes to sanitize it all, which can benefit keeping germs and bacteria at bay.

Accessories: It comes with a nipple to screw on the top ae convs well as dust covers to keep it sanitary.

Where To Buy: You can primarily find it on Amazon.

The Best Part: It comes with a bottle to cap off once you pump into it, but also a nipple to put on the top so your baby can drink straight from that bottle.

The Not So Great: There are a few many more pieces to the pump and accessories than other pumps, so it can be bothersome to keep track of them all.

4. Haakaa Breast Pump

Instead of coming with a handheld pump handle, the Haakaa Breast Pump is all one piece that you squeeze to express milk and which can then hold all of the milk. Afterward, however, you will need to then pour the milk into a bottle or bag to cap off and properly store, but the one piece style makes it easier than ever to keep track of breast pump parts.

The way it retains suction to the breast makes it possible to leave it attached to your chest as you cradle your baby with your other arm. Then, you can go right back to pumping.

It also comes with a flower stopped that fits into the top of it when it’s not in use and can keep hair, lint, and dust from getting into the pump.

Accessories: It comes with a flower stopper and small green carrying bag.

Where To Buy: You can purchase it on the manufacturer’s website and Amazon.

The Best Part: Once you get the suction to stick, you can take your time with pumping without needing to re-adjust the suction cup at any point.

The Not So Great: Since the milk isn’t pumped into a bottle, you’ll need to pour the milk into your own bottles or bags right after.

5. NatureBond Silicone Manual Breast Pump

Not only does it come with a bright pink stopper to keep debris and dust from getting inside the pump when it’s not in use, but it also comes with a cap that goes over the silicone breast shield.

The design of the pump itself is meant to be the simplest way to pump without cords or batteries since you use the natural suction to help express enough milk to fill the reservoir of the silicone pump. Overall, it’s soft enough to use any time you need to pump and durable enough to last a long time.

Accessories: It comes with a stopper, cap, and soft bag to hold everything in while it’s not in use or while traveling.

Where To Buy: You can buy it on the manufacturer’s website and Amazon.

The Best Part: It’s soft and comfortable on the breast, regardless of how long you need to pump.

The Not So Great: Afterward, it can be difficult to actually stop leaking since the suction is so strong during pumping.

6. Bumblebee Manual Breast Pump

The Bumblebee Manual Breast Pump is actually quite similar to the NatureBond, in that it’s a simple one-handed silicone breast pump that has both a stopper and cap to keep germs and unwanted dust and hair follicles out of the pump when it’s not in use.

However, it can also be put in a microwave, bottle warmer, and dishwasher, so you have an easy to use and clean product that you will need to clean each time thoroughly.

And since washing it by hand can become tedious and keeping breast milk at a reasonable temperature can be difficult, these are all necessary qualities for a solid manual breast pump to have.

Accessories: The pump comes with a stopper, cap, and printed bag to keep it all in.

Where To Buy: You can primarily find the pump on Amazon.

The Best Part: You can place the diction part of the pump over one breast while breastfeeding your baby on the other, so no milk is wasted.

The Not So Great: It can be difficult to get the suction to “stick” the first few times you use the pump.

7. Philips Avent Manual Pump

Even if you never decide to use Philips Avent bottles, chances are, the brand will cross your path at some point, as will the Philips Avent Manual Pump.

For parents who already trust the brand and their bottles, it should be a no-brainer for them to consider the pump that the Philips brand offers, primarily because of its convenience.

You pump right into a bottle, which you can then scream a cap and nipple on for your baby to drink from as soon as they need to. This eliminated the need to pump into one receptacle and then pour that into something else to store it away and then pour into yet another bottle when it’s time to feed your baby.

Plus, the design of the pump allows you to sit back and relax as you pump with the easy to use a handle as opposed to sitting awkwardly with cords and tubes around you.

Accessories: The pump comes with a four-ounce bottle and nipple as well as a disc and travel cover for the bottle.

Where To Buy: You can buy it on the manufacturer’s website and Amazon or in-store at Buy Buy Baby.

The Best Part: You can feed your baby easily right after pumping, thanks to the bottle and nipple design, which is made to feel as close to the real thing as possible.

The Not So Great: While the pump isn’t nearly as noisy as electric pumps, it does make a squeaking noise that can become annoying.

8. Nuk Expressive Manual Breast Pump

Like Philips, Nuk is a trusted brand for baby products, so the NUK Expressive Manual Breastpump is one that it wouldn’t be hard to trust in place of an electric pump.

The pump itself is small and easy to use regardless of where you are, and the soft massaging breast cushion is designed in a way to stimulate easy let-down so you won’t leak milk after taking it off your breast.

The pump is attached to a Nuk bottle and comes with a nipple to feed your infant right after pumping if you need to. But because the pump is from the Nuk brand, you can also use the pump with other wide-neck Nuk bottles.

While this means that you’ll need to stick the Nuk bottles specifically, it does make pumping directly into containers that much easier.

Accessories: The pump comes with a five-ounce bottle as well as a cap and sealing disc for the bottle.

Where To Buy: You can find the pump on Amazon and in-store at Target and Buy Buy Baby.

The Best Part: The manual pump can be attached to any compatible Nuk brand bottle.

The Not So Great: It can be difficult to get all parts of the bottle and pump clean after each use.

Final Thoughts

Manual breast pumps may not be for everyone, but for some moms, they’re a perfect alternative to the sometimes complicated electric breast pumps. They’re also more affordable than a lot of electric breast pumps, and you won’t have to worry about having fresh batteries or finding an outlet.

Electric pumps, on the other hand, are probably more suitable for moms who need to pump daily or much more regularly. If you need or prefer a manual pump, though, there are plenty of options that should work for you without breaking the bank.

About the Author

Rowan is a busy mom who is OBSESSED with finding the best swag (re: gear) for her ducklings. She loves giving advice to new moms, looking to make a quick (but informed) purchasing decision without reading 100 reviews like her.